the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯-第23章

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o　the　doorway　　duffle　called　out；　　〃hey；　brothers！　a　visitor　for　breakfast。鈥�

and　immediately；　mixed　with　a　sizzling　sound；　there　came　to　shasta　a　simply　　delightful　smell。　it　was　one　he　had　never　smelled　in　his　life　before；　but　i　hope　you　　have。　it　was；　in　fact；　the　smell　of　bacon　and　eggs　and　mushrooms　all　frying　in　a　pan。

〃mind　your　head；　lad；〃　said　duffle　a　moment　too　late；　for　shasta　had　　already　bashed　his　forehead　against　the　low　lintel　of　the　door。　〃now；〃　continued　the　dwarf；　　〃sit　you　down。

the　tables　a　bit　low　for　you；　but　then　the　stools　low　too。　thats　right。　　and　heres　porridge　…　and　heres　a　jug　of　cream　…　and　heres　a　spoon。鈥�

by　the　time　shasta　had　finished　his　porridge；　the　dwarfs　two　brothers　　（whose　names　were　rogin　and　bricklethumb）　were　putting　the　dish　of　bacon　and　eggs　and　　mushrooms；　and　the　coffee　pot　and　the　hot　milk；　and　the　toast；　on　the　table。

it　was　all　new　and　wonderful　to　shasta　for　calormene　food　is　quite　　different。　he　didnt　even　know　what　the　slices　of　brown　stuff　were；　for　he　had　never　seen　toast　　before。　he　didnt　know　what　the　yellow　soft　thing　they　smeared　on　the　toast　was；　　because　in　calormen　you　nearly　always　get　oil　instead　of　butter。　and　the　house　itself　　was　quite　different　from　the　dark；　frowsty；　fish…smelling　but　of　arsheesh　and　from　　the　pillared　and　carpeted　halls　in　the　palaces　of　tashbaan。　the　roof　was　very　low；　and　　everything　was　made　of　wood；　and　there　was　a　cuckoo…clock　and　a　red…and…white　checked　　table…cloth　and　a　bowl　of　wild　flowers　and　little　curtains　on　the　thick…paned　windows。　　it　was　also　rather　troublesome　having　to　use　dwarf　cups　and　plates　and　knives　and　　forks。　this　meant　that　helpings　were　very　small；　but　then　there　were　a　great　many　helpings；　　so　that　shastas　plate　or　cup　was　being　filled　every　moment；　and　every　moment　the　dwarfs　　themselves　were　saying；　〃butter　please〃；　or　〃another　cup　of　coffee；〃　or　〃id　like　a　　few　more　mushrooms；〃　or　〃what　about　frying　another　egg　or　so？〃　and　when　at　last　they　　had　all　eaten　as　much　as　they　possibly　could　the　three　dwarfs　drew　lots　for　who　　would　do　the　washing…up；　and　rogin　was　the　unlucky　one。　then　duffle　and　bricklethumb　　took　shasta　outside　to　a　bench　which　ran　against　the　cottage　wall；　and　they　all　　stretched　out　their　legs　and　gave　a　great　sigh　of　contentment　and　the　two　dwarfs　lit　their　pipes。　　the　dew　was　off　the　grass　now　and　the　sun　was　warm；　indeed；　if　there　hadnt　been　a　light　　breeze；　it　would　have　been　too　hot。

〃now；　stranger；〃　said　duffle；　〃ill　show　you　the　lie　of　the　land。　you　can　　see　nearly　all　south　narnia　from　here；　and　were　rather　proud　of　the　view。　right　away　on　　your　left；　　

beyond　those　near　hills；　you　can　just　see　the　western　mountains。　and　that　　round　hill　away　on　your　right　is　called　the　hill　of　the　stone　table。　just　beyond　…鈥�

but　at　that　moment　he　was　interrupted　by　a　snore　from　shasta　who；　what　with　　his　nights　journey　and　his　excellent　breakfast；　had　gone　fast　asleep。　the　kindly　　dwarfs；　as　soon　as　they　noticed　this；　began　making　signs　to　each　other　not　to　wake　him；　and　　indeed　did　so　much　whispering　and　nodding　and　getting　up　and　…tiptoeing　away　that　they　　certainly　would　have　waked　him　if　he　had　been　less　tired。

he　slept　pretty　well　…nearly　all　day　but　woke　up　in　time　for　supper。　the　　beds　in　that　house　were　all　too　small　for　him　but　they　made　him　a　fine　bed　of　heather　on　the　　floor；　and　he　never　stirred　nor　dreamed　all　night。　next　morning　they　had　just　finished　　breakfast　when　they　heard　a　shrill；　exciting　sound　from　outside。

〃trumpets！〃　said　all　the　dwarfs；　as　they　and　shasta　all　came　running　out。

the　trumpets　sounded　again：　a　new　noise　to　shasta；　not　huge　and　solemn　like　　the　horns　of　tashbaan　nor　gay　and　merry　like　king　lunes　hunting　horn；　but　clear　and　　sharp　and　valiant。　the　noise　was　ing　from　the　woods　to　the　east；　and　soon　there　　was　a　noise　of　horse…hoofs　mixed　with　it。　a　moment　later　the　head　of　the　column　came　into　　sight。

first　came　the　lord　peridan　on　a　bay　horse　carrying　the　great　banner　of　　narnia　…　a　red　lion　on　a　green　ground。　shasta　knew　him　at　once。　then　came　three　people　　riding　abreast；　two　on　great　chargers　and　one　on　a　pony。　the　two　on　the　chargers　were　king　　edmund　and　a　fair…haired　lady　with　a　very　merry　face　who　wore　a　helmet　and　a　mail　　shirt　and　carried　a　bow　across　her　shoulder　and　a　quiver　full　of　arrows　at　her　side。　　（〃the　queen　lucy；〃　whispered　duffle。）　but　the　one　on　the　pony　was　corin。　after　that　　came　the　main　body　of　the　army：　men　on　ordinary　horses；　men　on　talking　horses　（who　didnt　　mind　being　ridden　on　proper　occasions；　as　when　narnia　went　to　war）；　centaurs；　　stern；　hard…bitten　bears；　great　talking　dogs；　and　last　of　all　six　giants。　for　there　are　　good　giants　in　narnia。　but　though　he　knew　they　were　on　the　right　side　shasta　at　first　　could　hardly　bear　to　look　at　them；　there　are　some　things　that　take　a　lot　of　getting　used　to。

just　as　the　king　and　queen　reached　the　cottage　and　the　dwarfs　began　making　　low　bows　to　them；　king　edmund　called　out；　　〃now；　friends！　time　for　a　halt　and　a　morsel！〃　and　at　once　there　was　a　great　　bustle　of　people　dismounting　and　haversacks　being　opened　and　conversation　beginning　　when　corm　came　running　up　to　shasta　and　seized　both　his　hands　and　cried；　　〃what！　you　here！　so　you　got　through　all　right？　i　am　glad。　now　we　shall　have　　some　sport。

and　isnt　it　luck！　we　only　got　into　harbour　at　cair　paravel　yesterday　　morning　and　the　very　first　person　who　met　us　was　chervy　the　stag　with　all　this　news　of　an　　attack　on　anvard。　dont　you　think　…鈥�

〃who　is　your　highnesss　friend？〃　said　king　edmund　who　had　just　got　off　his　　horse。

〃dont　you　see；　sire？〃　said　corin。　〃its　my　double：　the　boy　you　mistook　me　　for　at　tashbaan。鈥�

〃why；　so　he　is　your　double；〃　exclaimed　queen　lucy。　〃as　like　as　two　twins。　　this　is　a　marvellous　thing。鈥�

〃please；　your　majesty；〃　said　shasta　to　king　edmund；　〃i　was　no　traitor；　　really　i　wasnt。

and　i　couldnt　help　hearing　your　plans。　but　id　never　have　dreamed　of　　telling　them　to　your　enemies。鈥�

〃i　know　now　that　you　were　no　traitor；　boy；〃　said　king　edmund；　laying　his　　hand　on　shastas　head。　〃but　if　you　would　not　be　taken　for　one；　another　time　try　not　　to　hear　whats　meant　for　other　ears。　but　alls　well。鈥�

after　that　there　was　so　much　bustle　and　talk　and　ing　and　going　that　　shasta　for　a　few　minutes　lost　sight　of　corin　and　edmund　and　lucy。　but　corin　was　the　sort　of　　boy　whom　one　is　sure　to　hear　of　pretty　soon　and　it　wasnt　very　long　before　shasta　　heard　king　edmund　saying　in　a　loud　voice：　　〃by　the　lions　mane；　prince；　this　is　too　much！　will　your　highness　never　be　　better？　you　are　more　of　a　hearts…scald　than　our　whole　army　together！　id　as　lief　have　　a　regiment　of　hornets　in　my　mand　as　you。鈥�

shasta　wormed　his　way　through　the　crowd　and　there　saw　edmund；　looking　very　　angry　indeed；　corin　looking　a　little　ashamed　of　himself；　and　a　strange　dwarf　　sitting　on　the　ground　making　faces。　a　couple　of　fauns　had　apparently　just　been　helping　it　　out　of　its　armour。

〃if　i　had　but　my　cordial　with　me；〃　queen　lucy　was　saying；　〃i　could　soon　　mend　this。　but　the　high　king　has　so　strictly　charged　me　not　to　carry　it　monly　to　the　　wars　and　to　keep　it　only　for　great　extremities！鈥�

what　had　happened　was　this。　as　soon　as　corin　had　spoken　to　shasta；　corins　　elbow　had　been　plucked　by　a　dwarf　in　the　army　called　thornbut。

〃what　is　it；　thornbut？〃　corin　had　said。

〃your　royal　highness；〃　said　thornbut；　drawing　him　aside；　〃our　march　today　　will　bring　us　through　the　pass　and　right　to　your　royal　fathers　castle。　we　may　be　in　　battle　before　night。鈥�

〃i　know；〃　said　corin。　〃isnt　it　splendid！鈥�

〃splendid　or　not；〃　said　thornbut；　〃i　have　the　strictest　orders　from　king　　edmund　to　see　to　it　that　your　highness　is　not　in　the　fight。　you　will　be　allowed　to　see　it；　　and　thats　treat　enough　for　your　highnesss　little　years。鈥�

〃oh　what　nonsense！〃　corin　burst　out。　〃of　course　im　going　to　fight。　why；　　the　queen　lucys　going　to　be　with　the　archers。鈥�

〃the　queens　grace　will　do　as　she　pleases；〃　said　thornbut。　〃but　you　are　in　　my　charge。

either　i　must　have　your　solemn　and　princely　word　that　youll　keep　your　pony　　beside　mine　…　not　half　a　neck　ahead　…　till　i　give　your　highness　leave　to　depart：　or　　else　…　it　is　his　majestys　word　…　we　must　go　with　our　wrists　tied　together　like　two　　prisoners。鈥�

〃ill　knock　you　down　if　you　try　to　bind　me；〃　said　corm。

〃id　like　to　see　your　highness　do　it；〃　said　the　dwarf。

that　was　quite　enough　for　a　boy　like　corin　and　in　a　second　he　and　the　dwarf　　were　at　it　hammer　and　tongs。　it　would　have　been　an　even　match　for；　though　corin　had　　longer　arms　and　more　height；　the　dwarf　was　older　and　tougher。　but　it　was　never　fought　　out　（thats　the　worst　of　fights　on　a　rough　hillside）　for　by　very　bad　luck　thornbut　trod　on　　a　loose　stone；　came　flat　down　on　his　nose；　and　found　when　he　tried　to　get　up　that　he　had　　sprained　his　ankle：　a　real　excruciating　sprain　which　would　keep　him　from　walking　or　　riding　for　at　least　a　fortnight。

〃see　what　your　highness　has　done；〃　said　king　edmund。　〃deprived　us　of　a　　proved　warrior　on　the　very　edge　of　battle。鈥�

〃ill　take　his　place；　sire；〃　said　corin。

〃pshaw；〃　said　edmund。　〃no　one　doubts　your　courage。　but　a　boy　in　battle　is　a　　danger　only　to　his　own　side。鈥�

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